MIT Enterprise Forum: Good times and talk of big, varied challenges

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Neil Senturia and Barbara Bry, serial entrepreneurs who invest in early-stage technology companies, will take turns writing this weekly column about entrepreneurship in San Diego. Neil is the author of the book “I’m There for You, Baby: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to the Galaxy,” which has more than 200 rules for entrepreneurs

Oh, what a night. Only 703 of our closest friends turned out in force for the annual MIT Enterprise Forum wine social at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps recently. High-quality booze from a dozen wineries, serious networking, solid food, short dresses, handsome men in summer blazers — what more could an entrepreneur of either sex want?

The evening started with the Riedel wineglass extravaganza at which wine expert Tammie Ward explained to 100 oenophiles (who paid extra) that “size and shape matter, as well as balance on the palate.” I think she was referring to wine glasses, but hey, it set the tone for the evening.

We decided to ask one question for the night to take the pulse of the crowd — and no, it was not about the debt ceiling. Our question: “What is the greatest challenge you or your company face at this time?”

Here are some of the responses.

• Theresa Drouillard, president, LevitZacks accounting firm: Bad economy. California is becoming the Greece of America. (Zorba is one of her clients.)

• Kathleen Glass, vice president, marketing, Profitline, which manages telecom expenses for companies: Helping companies figure out which executive is in charge of their mobile devices. (The Three Stooges.)

• Channing Hamlet, managing director, Cabrillo Advisors, a business valuation and investment banking firm: Finding experienced professionals in the valuation field. (Good people are always hard to find, and San Diego has them.)

• Dan Zagursky, business development, Zeebo, an educational game platform producer: Entering emerging markets like India. (What’s so hard — get on a plane.)